Katrina Volunteer Ministers - Katrina Disaster Relief

Scientology organization donates supplies

Today I gathered a good amount of supplies for the relief effort with funds donated by the Miami Scientology Organization. The organization's Executive Director even ran out to her car to add an inflatable mattress that had been purchased for Florida relief efforts but not yet used.

I was also greatly helped by Diana P. Giffuni, a local Scientologist who helped coordinate things in Miami, helped arrange my flight to Baton Rouge and drove me around town in my search for supplies.

John Travolta, Kelly Preston fly in to help

Actor John Travolta and his wife, actress and activist Kelly Preston, both of them longtime Scientologists, have donated five tons of food for the Katrina victims. The celebrity couple also brought along hundreds of tetanus shots to be delivered to relief workers and survivors.

Travolta, an experienced pilot, flew his private plane into Baton Rouge, LA, to deliver the supplies. Afterwards, he visited the devastated City of New Orleans to meet with the Volunteer Ministers working in the evacuee shelters.

The "Stay Cool" star told the press that he was working with talkshow host Oprah Winfrey to coordinate the delivery of food and privisions for those affected all over the Southern U.S. "This is our job today, to provide relief for those in need" - he said. He also thanked the Volunteer Ministers for the excelent work that they're doing in the area - "They're an Army of Hope," said the star.

Scientology VMs respond to Katrina Disaster

Scientology Volunteer Ministers respond to Katrina disaster

UN Agencies Stand Ready To help Katrina Survivors

UN Agencies Stand Ready To help Katrina Survivors

Previous relief efforts

I've been asked to link to my earlier volunteer experiences. You can see photos from earlier this year in Indonesia here (click on Greg's photos.) You can see some photos from the 9-11 relief efforts here and here.

Preparations for trip

My flight leaves in 10 hours, I'm making final preparations. I'm flying to Miami from Buenos Aires - . A large group of volunteers is deploying from Miami Organization, I'll be meeting with them and going to Baton Rouge.